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1. To verify compliance with Articles 9, 11, 12 and 14, national competent authorities shall have the power to request that providers of political advertising services transmit any necessary information. The transmitted information shall be complete, accurate and trustworthy, and shall be provided in a clear, coherent, consolidated and intelligible format. Where technically possible, the information shall be transmitted in a standardised and machine-readable format.

2. The request referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain the following elements:

(a) a statement of reasons explaining the objective for which the information is requested, unless the request pursues the objective of the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of criminal offences or serious administrative offences and unless disclosing the reasons for the request would jeopardise that objective;

(b) information on the redress available to the relevant provider of political advertising services and to the sponsor of the political advertising service.

3. Upon receipt of a request pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, providers of political advertising services shall, within two working days, acknowledge receipt of that request and inform the national competent authority of the steps taken to comply with it. The relevant provider of political advertising services shall provide the requested information within eight working days. However, providers of political advertising services qualifying as micro, small or medium-sized undertakings under Article 3(1), (2) and (3) of Directive 2013/34/EU shall make reasonable efforts to provide the requested information within 12 working days and thereafter, without undue delay.

4. By derogation from paragraph 3 of this Article, in the last month preceding an election or a referendum, providers of political advertising services shall provide the requested information that is in their possession without undue delay and no later than 48 hours. However, providers of political advertising services qualifying as micro or small undertakings under Article 3(1) and (2) of Directive 2013/34/EU shall provide the requested information that is in their possession without undue delay and where possible before the date of the election or referendum.

5. Providers of political advertising services shall designate a contact point for the interaction with competent national authorities. Providers of political advertising services qualifying as micro, small or medium-sized undertakings under Article 3(1), (2) and (3) of Directive 2013/34/EU may appoint an external natural person as contact point.